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Australian high school students continue to take a keen interest in the intellectual tradition of the West following another successful Summer School hosted by ACU’s Western Civilisation program.
Sixty students from across Australia, including Perth in Western Australia and the Central Yorke Peninsular in South Australia, attended the Summer School last month. More than half the students who attended are completing Year 12 this year.
The two-day event, held at ACU North Sydney, gave students a first-hand experience of life as an undergraduate studying ACU’s Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation).
Students took part in collaborative lectures that employed the Socratic method to foster critical thinking and reasoning, and in one lively session, performed renditions of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.
The summer school also featured keynote lectures by Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation’s former CEO, Professor Simon Haines, and Senior Lecturer for ACU’s Western Civilisation program Dr Tyler Paytas, who is an expert in moral philosophy and the history of ethics.
Many of the students praised the small yet engaging seminars, a key feature of ACU’s Western Civilisation degrees, as well as the formidable expertise of the lecturers:
“The most valuable aspect for me was the extreme knowledge of the lecturers and their interest in our perspectives through Socratic discussion.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed being exposed to a university-style education format, through lectures and smaller seminars.”
“I loved the chance to delve into these classics and have engaging discussions! I really appreciated the chance to have a taste in to what it would be like to study liberal arts.”
Professor Peter Anstey, the Director of ACU’s Western Civilisation program, said it was heartening to see young Australians engaging with the great works and ideas of the West even before starting university.
“It is essential that we offer young people the opportunity to be immersed in the classic texts and cultural expressions of Western civilisation within an environment that nurtures critical thinking and healthy dialogue,” Professor Anstey said.
“It is even more rewarding when young people have the chance to explore Western tradition in their formative years, and especially while they are carefully considering their future endeavours.
“As the new Director of this fantastic program, I’m committed to building on opportunities like our Summer School to help young Australian minds discover the richness and value of the Western tradition.”
ACU’s Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation) is a liberal arts degree that explores key works of art, culture, and science that have shaped the West since the civilisations of antiquity.
The Ramsay Centre offers thirty generous scholarships each year to support high-achieving students entering one of ACU’s three degree programs: the Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation), the Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation)/ Bachelor of Laws, and the Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation)/ Master of Teaching (Secondary).
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